The Indirect Analysis Method of Design for Stability: An Amplifier to Address Member Inelasticity, Member Imperfections, and Uncertainty in Member Stiffness

Abstract

Design for stability requires multiple considerations, including geometric second-order effects and the effects on structure response of member inelasticity, member imperfections, and uncertainty in member stiffness. The “indirect analysis method” provides a simple amplifier approach to addressing these effects such that effective length factors may be taken as 1.0. The indirect analysis method meets the stability design requirements of the AISC Specification and can reduce analysis and design effort for many typical building structures.